HIKE, HUNT, FISH, CLIMB, SKI, BIKE, BOAT.

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FIRST RESPONDERS CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH

As the wrath of the storm continued, Firefighters waded through debris, over piles of fallen trees and around displaced boulders in the aftermath of the storm, scouring for survivors after several homes were swept away. In one dramatic rescue, the Santa Barbara fire department pulled a 14-year-old girl from the remains of her destroyed home in Montecito. In another instance, a boy was found under a freeway overpass and rescued by firefighters; mud had carried him for hundreds of yards.

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MUDSLIDE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Thank you Survival Medicine

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Before building that dream home:

• -Beware of steep slopes, natural or man-made runoff conduits, or eroded areas.
• -Have the county Geological Survey specialist assess your property for possible mudslide risk.
• -Consider flexible pipe fittings (installed by pros) less prone to gas or water leaks.
• -Consider building a retaining wall in likely mudslide channels.
• -Avoid areas that have experienced mudslides in the past.
• -Plan out an evacuation route.
• -Have a battery-powered NOAA weather radio.
• -Have a medical kit with items to deal with both traumatic injury and water sterilization.

WARNING SIGNS

Mudslide prone areas will begin to show signs that trouble is on the way:

• -Cracks develop in walls, flooring, paving, driveways, or foundations.
• -Outside structures (for example, stairs) begin to separate from buildings
• -Doors and windows start becoming jammed.
• -Utility lines start breaking.
• -Fences, trees, and utility poles start tilting.
• -Water starts accumulating in strange places
• -Roads and embankments along slopes start breaking off at the edges.
• -The Terrain starts to “bulge” or starts slanting at the base of the slope.

DURING THE EVENT

• -Turn on the NOAA radio and listen to warnings as they are reported.
• -Warn your neighbors!
• -If a mudslide is imminent, get the heck out of there if at all possible with the understanding that roads may be washed out.  Stay away from mudslide areas; further mudslides may still occur.
• -If you stay home, get to the second story if you have one.
• -Watch for and avoid downed power lines.
• -As the slide passes through, get under a table and curl into a ball, protecting your head.
• -If you’re trapped in the mud, survival rates go up if you can form an air pocket around you.  You can survive without water for 3-4 days if you had to.

SURVIVAL PREPAREDNESS IS KEY

Mudslides are just another reason why it’s important to be prepared, in every way, for the slings and arrows that the uncertain future may hold for you and your family.

Joe Alton, M.D., aka Dr. Bones

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